Trivia

Represented Belgium in 1963 at the Sopot Festival where she sang as a soprano songs of Cole Porter and Bluesette of Toots Thielemans.

Was a famous soprano singer.

Was married to director Roland Verhavert. She played in his movie De vijanden.

Was mother-in-law of actor Jan Decleir.

After her studies she often participated in various concerts of the National Orchestra of Belgium.

She made her debut as Mimi in the opera La bohème at The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie in Brussels.

She also often collaborated with a number of radio orchestras. This gave her the opportunity to sing many works by Belgian composers.

Raymonde Serverius started her career with a radio concerto of Les amis de Mozart.

Raymonde Serverius was also a popular soloist in England, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Switzerland.

After the end of her concert career in 1951, she sang in several operas. She did this at the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg (The Royal Theatre of La Monnaie) in Brussels.

In 1962 Serverius was appointed professor of singing at the Royal Conservatory of Liège. She has held this position for thirty years.

For the ballet of Maurice Béjart she sang Anton Webern at the Montreal exhibition in Canada.

Her starring roles were Mimi in La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, Aïda, Turandot, Mélisande and Le Sacre du Printemps.

She was the daughter of the dramatic soprano Maria Serverius.

Remarkable was her passionate participation in numerous concerts by the National Orchestra of Belgium and various radio orchestras, mainly the Symphonic Orchestra of the NIR/INR (National Institute for Radio Broadcasting), and later the Philharmonic Orchestra of the BRTN/RTBF.

After studying in Paris for three years, she continued her studies in Salzburg at the Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst "Mozarteum" Salzburg.

She was known not only for her vocal talent, but also for her rich musical knowledge and appearance.

The Belgian Queen Mother (Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of the Belgians) gave an allowance and donation to Serverius. This made it possible for Raymonde Serverius to study in Paris with Mrs Ritter-Ciampi.

The singer has collaborated with great orchestra conductors such as Fritz Celis, Luigi Martelli, Pièrre Boulez and Bruno Maderna.